Sunday, April 19, 2009

Returning lost property

Hi,

Today we begin to review a topic we covered a few years ago: Hashavat Aveidah, returning lost objects.

The Torah clearly instructs us to return lost objects, and so one who encounters a lost object must take care of it until he has a chance to bring it back to its owner.

One is not obligated to return an object if - before the finder found the item - the owner lost hope of ever retrieving it. This is because the owner's abandonment renders the item ownerless. It is, of course, a good practice to return it, but that is a separate mitzvah of chesed (generosity).

(Code of Jewish Law Choshen Mishpat 259:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

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